Expansible shelf assembly



Dec. 7, 1965 c. E. KERR EXPANSIBLE SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 13, 1964INVENTOR.

CLARENCE E. KERR United States Patent M 3,221,677 EXPANSIBLE SHELFASSEMBLY Clarence E. Kerr, 4308 E. Shan Drive, Mobile, Ala. FiledNov.13, 1964, Ser. No. 410,918 4 Claims. or. 108-102) This invention relatesto shelf units, and more particularly, to an expansible, adjustablestorage shelf assembly, which can be conveniently used wherever shelfspace is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an extensible shelfassembly which will enable the supporting. shelf surface to be Withdrawnfrom the interior of a supporting cabinet, or the like, for gainingaccess to the entireshelf area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an extensibleshelf unit of the above type which can be adjustedin size and shape tofit within a cabinet or other enclosure of a wide variety of sizes.

Still another objectof the present invention is to provide a sizeand'shape adjustable shelf unit which can be readily installedv within acabinet or other enclosure, which will allow for the extension of thesupporting surfaces thereof outwardly of such enclosure for providingimmediate access to the entire surface area of the shelf.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide anadjustable, expansiblemshelf unit of the aforementioned type which canbe mounted in tiers within or upon any. suitable base, withoutintermediate shelf supports, which will allow for maximum accessibilityto the entire area of all shelf surfaces at all times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an expansiblestorage shelf assembly of this type which includes a minimum number ofparts, many of which are interchangeable, and all of which are extremelysimple and readily fabricated, which can be manufactured in varioussizes at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages ofthis'invention will become apparent from a study ofthe'followingspecification, takenin connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of an expansible adjustablestorage shelf assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken along line 22 ofFIGURE 1, with the side frame members in a fully compacted position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the side frame membersof the base unit in extended position for installation in a largerstorage area;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, taken along line 44 ofFIGURE 1, showing the position of carrier frame members in a fullycompacted position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the carrier framemembers in extended position for wider application;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the rear portion of the carrierframe assembly shown in FIGURE 1, with the frame elements thereof in afully contracted position;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, with the frame elements inextended position for wider application;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front plan view of certain rear portions ofthe base frame assembly, with the frame members in fully contractedposition;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, with the frame members inextended position for wider application; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a 3,221,677 Fatented Dec.7, 1965 frame sleevemember forming a part of the present inventionproviding size adjustment for the shelf assembly.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly toFIGURE 1 thereof, an expansible storage shelf assembly 10 made inaccordance with the present invention is shown to include three basiccomponents: a size adjustable base, a size adjustable shelf, and a sizeadjustable carrier which is slidably supported upon the base forreciprocating longitudinal movement between predetermined limits, andsupporting the shelf thereupon for movement therewith.

The base includes a pair of front frame members 12 and a pair of rearframe members 14. A pair of angle sleeve members 16 slidably receive thelongitudinal portions of the front and rear base members 12, 14, to provide longitudinal adjustment of the size and shape of the base frame. Apair of end angular sleeve members 18 slidably receive the lateralportions of the base frame members to provide lateral size and shapeadjustment of the base frame. Thus, it will be recognized that the sizeand shape of the base member can be adjusted in all directions withinthe approximate limits shown in FIG- URES 2, 3, 8 and 9.

The central portion of the rear sleeve member 18 is provided with anaperture 2%] which receives the threaded end 22 of a longitudinal rod 24therethrough, and which isthus secured to the sleeve member 18 by meansof a nut 26. A rod 28 is slidably received through the central aperture20 in the front sleeve member 18 for reception within the interior 30 ofthe longitudinal tubular rod 24, and is secured at any desired lengthposition within the tubular rod 24 by means of a set screw 32. Theforward end of the rod 28 has an external thread 34 which threadedlyreceives a nut 36 to thus fix the longitudinal size ofthe base frameassembly.

The carrier unit includes a pair of substantially L- shaped tubularmembers 38 which have rear leg portions 40 slidably received within arear tubular sleeve member 42 having a central diametrically extendingaperture 44 that slidably receives the tubular rod member 24 of the baseframe assembly therethrough. The forward endsof the carrier framemembers 38 define longitudinal bores 46 that slidably receive the endsof L-shaped rods 48 having perpendicularly related and offset forwardportions 50 that are received within a forward sleeve member 54. The rodmembers 48 are longitudinally adjustable within the tubular carrierframe members 38, to suit any longitudinal size and shape requirements,by means of set screws 56. Lateral adjustment of the carrier frame isaccomplished by the sliding engagement of the respective ends of thetubular members 38 and rod members 48 within the rear and forward sleevemembers 42, 54, respectively. Bearing guide members '78 mounted upon thesides of the base frame slidably support the forward portions of thetubular carrier frame members 38 and the sides of the base frame membersalso con tribute to maintain the lateral size adjustment of the carrierframe during use.

The shelf assembly includes a pair of rear shelf portions 47 with sideand rear upstanding flanges 58 that laterally overlap to provide lateralsize adjustment. The forward portions of these panels 57 overlap therear portions of a pair of forward shelf panels 66 having upstandingside flanges 70. A pair of skirts 62 secure the rear shelf panels 57 tothe rear portion of the carrier frame, by engagement within internallythreaded apertures 68 thereof. The forward panels 66 are similarlysecured by means of screws 72 that are received within apertures 74 inthe carrier frame members. It will thus be recognized that the size andshape of the actual shelf portion of the assembly can be readilyadjusted simply by varying the position of the respective panelsrelative to each other. Longitudinal slots 64 in the forward panels 66provides for longitudinal adjustment of the forward panels relative tothe carrier assembly.

It will thus be recognized that in actual use, the base frame membersmay be supported directly upon a shelf surface of a cabinet or otherstorage unit or, if a plurality of these units 10 are to be used instacked relationship, suitable brackets may be provided for suspendingeach base frame assembly from the sides or top of the enclosure inpie-determined spaced relationship with each other. The base frame canbe adjusted to suitable size and shape during installation, after whichthe size and shape of the carrier frame assembly is similarly adjustedand then assembled with the base frame by extending the rod 24 throughthe aperture 44 in the rear carrier sleeve 42 prior to mounting the nut26 upon the threaded end 22 of the rod 24. The forward end of thecarrier frame is received within the upwardly concave seats 78 f thebearing guide members 76 to provide minimum resistance to thelongitudinal movement of the carrier frame relative to the base frame. Ayoke 80 may be secured to any desired position on the rod 24, to thuslimit the forward extension of the carrier frame relative to the baseframe, upon the engagement of such yoke 80 with the forward surface ofthe rear sleeve 42 of the carrier frame as it is extended. The shelfpanels are then secured to the carrier frame in the desired size andshape provided by the size adjustment features thereof. Upon assembly, acompletely self contained and interconnected adjustable storage shelfunit is provided which can be extended at will from within the interiorof the storage cabinet or the like to provide maximum access to theentire shelf area for placing or removing the contents thereupon.

It will also be recognized that where only longitudinal size and shapeadjustment is required, the lateral adjustment feature can be dispensedwith; where only lateral size and shape adjustment is required, thelongitudinal adjustment members may be dispensed with. However, becauseof the novel association of the parts as hereinbefore described, bothlateral and longitudinal adjustment is provided with minimum number ofparts and connections which further aid in the construction, assemblyand mounting of each such unit.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. An expansible storage shelf assembly, comprising in combination, asize adjustable base, the size adjustable shelf, and a size adjustablecarrier slidably supported upon said base for reciprocating movementbetween pre-determined limits, said shelf being detachably secured tosaid carrier for movement therewith relative to said base, said sizeadjustable base comprising a plurality of frame members having acomposite rectangular outline slidably interconnected to define arectangular frame of adjustable size, said size adjustable basecomprising four right angle members defining said rectangular outline,and four sleeve members each slidably receiving one end of an adjustableangle member adjustably connecting said frame members to define saidrectangular frame.

2. An expansible storage shelf assembly as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid carrier comprises a plurality of frame members having a compositerectangular outline slidably interconnected to define a rectangularframe of adjustable size, and guide means slidably connecting saidcarrier to said base for said reciprocating longitudinal movement.

3. An expansible storage shelf assembly as set forth in claim 2, whereinsaid shelf comprises a plurality of panels having marginal portionssupported upon said carrier frame and having overlapping centralportions accommodating adjustment of the combined size and position ofsaid shelf relative to said carrier frame.

4. An expansible storage shelf assembly as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid guide means comprises a longi tudinal guide bar secured to saidbase, and one end of said carrier slidably receiving said guide bartherethrough, said guide bar securing said carrier to said base andguiding said reciprocating longitudinal movement of said carrierrelative to said base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,050 7/1906Weston 10893 1,242,779 10/1917 Davis 108-102 1,291,794 1/1919 Droste312-205 2,218,300 10/1940 Schuster 312--205 2,907,487 10/ 1959Harrington 220-8 2,909,349 10/1959 Morris 10854 FRANK B. SHERRY, PrimaryExaminer.

F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN EXPANSIBLE STORAGE SHELF ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, ASIZE ADJUSTABLE BASE, THE SIZE ADJUSTABLE SHELF, AND A SIZE ADJUSTABLECARRIER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID BASE FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTBETWEEN PRE-DETERMINED LIMITS, SAID SHELF BEING DETACHABLY SECURED TOSAID CARRIER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, SAID SIZEADJUSTABLE BASE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FRAME MEMBERS HAVING ACOMPOSITE RECTANGULAR OUTLINE SILDABLY INTERCONNECTED TO DEFINE ARECTANGULAR FRAME OF ADJUSTABLE SIZE, SAID SIZE ADJUSTABLE BASECOMPRISING FOUR RIGHT ANGLE MEMBERS DEFINING SAID RECTANGULAR OUTLINE,AND FOUR SLEEVE MEMBERS EACH SLIDABLY RECEIVING ONE END OF AN ADJUSTABLEANGLE MEMBER ADJUSTABLE CONNECTING SAID FRAME MEMBERS TO DEFINE SAIDRECTANGULAR FRAME.